Lamp construction



L. SCHEPMOES. LAMP CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I6, 1915.

1,339,985. Patented May 11, 1920.

I I l 4441 1" 2 M4 4 "45 1 I1! I) {I 1 I A I \6 .1 I ,7 f 7 a a 20 19 I 25 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES, OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO*SAF-ETY CAR HEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LAM]? CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed March 16, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LINDsLEY SoHnrMons, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Hasbrouck Heights, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Lamp Construction, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to lamp construction for railway carriages and the like.

One of the objects thereof is to provide apparatus of the above type of a simple and durable construction which will possess certain advantages in security and general efficiency in practical use. Another object is to provide a lamp construction in which the source of light is so mounted and the light so directed as to give the highest optical efficiency without materially complicating the parts. Other objects are toprovide in apparatus of the above type features of adjustability, neatness of appearance and ready manipulation of the parts. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

The accompanying drawing is a central sectional elevation of a lamp fixture and. as-

; sociated parts.

As conducive to a better understanding of certain features ofthis invention, it may first be noted that in lighting apparatus for railway carriages and the like certain severe conditions of use are met with, such as jarring and vibration, handling by unskilled employees, and the particular desirability for a high efficiency, due to the fact that the source of supply is carried with the car.

This efficient action must be gained without undue complication of the parts, either in structure or requisite manipulation, and, moreover, all partsmust be reliably secured in their assembled relation. It may also be noted that with the high interior finish of railway carriages, particularly of the better class, an .unsightlyappearance is particularly objectionable. To provide practical apparatus of this nature having the above Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma-y'1-1, 1920.

Serial No. 14,644.

advantages without the attendant defectsis one of the dominant aims of this invention. Referring now to this drawing, there is indicated at 1 arigid support, which is preferably a casting, comprising the flanged ring 2 and upright ring 3 connected by spaced arms 4. This support :is ,,secured1to the ceiling 5 as by the bolts 6 or other'suitable means.

Threaded withinring 3 isa tube 7,.pre'ferably of such internal diameter, particularly at its lower end, as to receive the lamp. socket hereinafter referred to. Fitted withinthe lower end of tube 7 is a shell orthimble 8 preferably of sheet .metal, whichis held'in place as by the screws 9. The lower end of the member 8 has secured thereto by. screws 10 a lamp socket 11 which may extend any desired distance within member 7 The memher 8, which is of cheap and simple construction, is readily interchangeable with similar parts of a shorter vertical length so that there is thus gained a supporting device by which the lamp socket may be mounted at any desired height, which is a feature of the highest practical importance.

Lamp socket 11 is provided with the ordinary contacts 12 and 13 which are'respectively connected with electrical conductors which may be led in between arms 4: and downwardly through the tube 7 and an opening at 14 in the bottom of the member 8. The electrical connections are notlsho-wn .as they form in themselves no part ofthe present invention.

A suitable lamp 15 is mounted with its plug operatively related to the contactslQ and 13 and it is to be notedthat the contact 13 is here positioned above the upper edge of the shade, hereinafter referred to, thus permittingv a large lamp bulbto be employed without bringing the filament below the proper optical center of the apparatus. In fact, the above noted facility with which the socket may be indefinitely raised in position by interchanging the member 8 permits lamps of any desired size and candlepower to be employed.

A feature of large importance in a practical way lies in the covering means for the support .1 and parts depending therefrom. Mounted about the support 1 is a canopy 16, and it may here bernoted that the term canopy is used in a broad sense to comprehend any covering device of this The above description of the action of the general sort. The lower flanged end of, canopy 16 interfits with the upper end of a sleeve 17 which rests within a seat 18 in the annular fitting 19. The latter is threaded upon the tube 7 at 20 and is locked in position as by screws 21 to a collar 22, also threaded upon tube 7.

It will thus be seen that after the support 1 has been securely afiixed to the ceiling, a

. proper adjustment of the fitting 19 will carry upwardly the canopy 16 until it also fits the ceiling snugly, even though its surface be slightly irregular.

ternal thread 23 which extends for asubstantial vertical distance, thus affording a correspondingly wide range of adjustment of the locking or clamping collar 24 threaded thereon. in performing its functions, as hereinafter described, this collar has a considerable upward and downward movement and in the normal active position which it occupies in general use it would leave exposed a considerable portion of the thread 23, thus giving an unsightly and unfinished appearance to the parts andexposi'ng the thread to dirt, dust and mechanical injury; these parts being usually formed of relatively soft metal. There is provided, however, upon collar 24, an upward annular extension 25 which fits over and protects the threaded portion 23 and yet is formed to fit telescopically the portion of the fitting 10 immediately above the thread. This permits the collar to occupy any desired position without multiplying the number of necessary parts or giving the device an unsightly appearance at this point.

The lower portion of fitting 19 has secured thereto a spring gripping ring 26 comprising a plurality of resilient fingers 27 so curved as shown at 28 as to interlock with a lip 29 formed upon the shade 30, hereinafter described.

, These fingers are so formed and tempered that they normally spring inwardly and of themselves tend to grip the lip 29 with a yielding force which nevertheless permits the shade to be snapped in or out, as for purposes of cleaning or renewal. These fingers are so formed, however, that when the shade'is removed they do not snap inwardly to such an extent as to render difliresilient device 26 is given under the assumption that the clamping collar 24 has ,been moved upwardly to remain substantially inoperative. When it is forced downwardly, its flaring portion provided with the inner surface 32 crowds the spring fingers 27 into interlocking relation and holds them securely in such position, thus preventing accidental detachment of the shade.

Considering now the construction and action of shade 30, it may first be noted that the term shade is used in a broad sense to denote any device of glass or similar ma- The fitting 19 is provided with an eX-' terial adapted to affect the distribution of light from the source with which it is used. Shade 30 as here shown is of substantially closed form and hence, being practically guarded from the entry of dust, is readily kept in clean condition. This shade comprises an upper flaring portion 33 which is readily translucent and is preferably formed of substantially clear glass. Integral with this portion and extending downwardly therefrom and across the lower side of the bulb 15, is a portion 34. This portion is of relatively opaque glass, such as the so-called opal glass, and although it permits the transmission of light to a certain de ree, nevertheless it acts largely to reflect the light upwardly throu h the portions 33. The light upwardly directed from portions 33 strikes against the ceiling 5, which is preferably given a light color finish, and which again reflects the light downwardly thus distributing it and diffusing it with substantial uniformity about the chamber in which the lamp is positioned. Aside from the optical action of the shade, it possesses many ad vantages due to the general form shown.

It is substantially dust-proof, as above noted, thus reducing the labor in cleaning and avoiding any diminution of the light due to unclean surface, either of the shade or the bulb. Also, the lower portion being homogeneous as well as continuous in form, gives a desired even distribution unbroken by irregularities, such as an opening at the bottom. It is to be noted, however, that although many advantages inhere in the form shown, nevertheless this form may be radically varied and still embody many of the features of this invention.

It will thus be seen that there is provided apparatus in which while the parts are of simple construction, their action is nevertheless efiicient and reliable. The various features of adjustability are of large value in a practical way and the structure of the individual parts is such that their manufacture is inexpensive. Also, the source of light is not only positioned for most efficient action, but the light which it emits is distributed most effectively. The various features of construction and action, moreover, coact and interact :in practical use in producing a piece 3 of apparatus of "the highest practica lity and efiiciency.

As manychanges might be made in the aboveconstruction, and as many'apparently difierent embodiments might be made of this invention without departing from the scope'thereof, it is intendedthat all features herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combination of elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letter Patent of the United States y 1:}

1. In lamp construction for'railway carriages and the like, in combination, a supporting member adapted to be secured to the ceiling, a canopy extending about said supporting member, a device mounted upon said supporting member and vertically adjustable with respect thereto, said canopy being mounted upon said device and adjustable therewith, a shade provided with a lip, means adapted to interlockwith said lip, and a member adjustably mounted upon said device adapted to hold said first means in interlocking relation.

2. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the ceiling. a canopy about said support, a member in rigid relation to said support and extending downwardly therefrom; a source of light mounted upon the said last member, a shade about said source of light provided with a lip, a device mounted upon said downwardly extending member and vertically adjustable with respect thereto, said canopy being mounted upon said device and adj'ustable therewith, means mounted upon said device comprising a plurality of spring fingers adapted to interlock with said lip, and a collar threaded upon said device adapted to hold said fingers in interlocking position.

3. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the ceiling. a tubular member extending downwardly therefrom, a socket-supporting member fitted therein, a socket secured to said socketsupporting member, said tubular member being of a size to permit said socket to extend therein, a lamp within said socket, and means adapted to support a shade about said lamp.

4. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the ceiling, a tubular member extending downwardly therefrom, a socketsupporting member fitted therein, a socket secured to said socketsupporting member, said tubular member being of a size to permit said socket to extend therein, a lamp within said socket, means adapted to support a shade about said lamp, a canopy about said support, and means adjustably mounted upon said tubular member and having mounted thereon said canopy.

5. In a lamp construction for railway carriages-and the like, in combination, a sup portadapted to be secured to the ceiling. a member:rigidly-securedto said support and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with an open lower end, an interchangeable socket-supporting member secured within said open end, a socket supported thereby, an electric lamp coacting with said socket, a canopy about said support, means upon said open-ended member adapted to adjust the position of said canopy vertically with respect to said support and provided with an external thread, a shade about said lamp, a resilient device supporting said shade, and a clamping collar adapted to lock said resilient device in operative position and provided with an upward annular extension concealing a portion of said external thread.

6. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a supporting member adapted to be secured to the ceiling, a canopy extending about said supporting member, a device mounted upon said supporting member and vertically adjustable with respect thereto, said canopy being mounted upon said device and adjustable therewith, a shade provided with a lip, means adapted to interlock with said lip, and means for holding said first means in interlocking relation.

7. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the ceiling, a canopy about said support, a member mounted upon said support and extending downwardly therefrom, a source of light mounted upon the said last member, a shade about said source of light provided with a lip, a device mounted upon said downwardly extending member, said canopy being mounted upon said device, means mounted upon said device comprising a plurality of spring fingers adapted to interlock with said lip, and a collar threaded upon. said device adapted to hold said fingers in interlocking position.

8. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the ceiling, a canopy-supporting member extending downwardly therefrom, a socket-supporting member fitted therein, a socket secured to said socket -supporting member, a lamp within said socket, means adapted to support a shade about said lamp, a canopy about said support, and means adjustably mounted upon said canopy-supporting member and having mounted thereon said canopy.

9. In lamp construction for railway carriages and the like, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the ceiling, a member rigidly secured to said support and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with an open lower end, a socketsupporting member secured within said open end, an electric-lamp socket supported thereby, a canopy about said support, and means upon said open-ended member adapted to adjust the position of said canopy Vertically with respect to said support.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. lYitnesses:

MAXWELL GREENBERGER, Gno. E. Home. 

